A Melody of You: Book Five

Epilogue

Cristina has been avoiding my calls. Something in my chest tightens and I know something is wrong with her. So I decided to visit her after work at her place.

She took a while to open and when she finally did, her eyes were puffy and red. She gasped. She was not expecting me here, but I didn't care for her surprise. Her distress was clear and I quickly said, "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Her lips began to quiver and she only ran into my arms with a quiet sob. My mind raced trying to understand what was happening and how I could help her feel better. Sadly, I could not. It's not her fault she fought with her best friend. She sobbed and told me all the things she said to her. I couldn't believe this story she was telling me. She loves Leanne with all her heart. Why would she react like this?

"Honey. Why did you say that? What happened? Did she make you angry?" I gently said as we sat at her couch. I ran a warm hand down her wet temple and went to her bathroom for a towel. I made sure she was warm and I quickly made her a warm tranquilizing tea to put in her trembling hands.

She sniffled and tears fell down her cheeks in silence. I gently wiped them away and lifted her eyes back at me with a finger under her chin. She let out a soft sigh and said, "She doesn't trust you. Especially after talking with Yujun."

That was it. I knew exactly what was going on and my blood began to boil with anger. She's torn in two between me or her best friend and it shouldn't be that way. But I'll fix this myself.

I call Yujun the day he arrives to the States again. He sounded tired and I don't know why he was surprised to receive a call from me when he has tried to put his nose in my business recently. Before he can start with his stupid tease, I firmly said, "We need to talk. Meet me at my office on the university campus once you arrive."

He let out a sigh and said, "It was a long flight. Can't I, at least, have some rest first? I have a feeling I'm going to need strength for this conversation."

"If you really care about Leanne, then I suggest you come as soon as possible."

I hung up with a determined and angry heart. I knew he would fall for that. A man in love will never hesitate. I should know since I am willing to talk to this man now. A man I once saw as a brother comes into my office as an enemy. Especially if he messes with Cristina's heart.

He enters with exhaustion weighing on his eyes, but he raises his brows at me as I sit at my desk; studying his every expression and move as if I were in a courtroom. "So? What was the urgent matter? Make it quick because I have to get back to work in a few hours. I would like to at least change clothes."

The audacity he has for coming here with such arrogance. I burn my eyes through him and say, "Alright. Let's get to the point. What did you tell Leanne?"

"I'm sorry?" he says with a hint of a scoff.

"I know you talked to her about me. What did you tell her?"

He raises his hands up and gestures at me to calm down. "Hold on. What is going on here? I'm confused."

"Just answer the damn question, Yujun!"

He clenches his jaw when he notices the fury in my voice. He straightens his shoulders and firmly says, "Nothing specific. Don't worry. She doesn't know about your little incident."

I scoff and I can feel my ears burn with my blood boiling at his firm expression. "You have no right to judge me. You did this!"

"Did what? Choose violence for you? You did that. That man was in bed for weeks because of you!"

"Shut up! You have no right to bring that up! Not when you left!"

He lets out a chuckle and says, "Really? You're blaming me for that? Did I tell you to punch him? Did I call the police? Just because I left to pursue my dreams it doesn't mean I asked you to become into a violent person!"

"That's another discussion to have next time," I firmly say. "Do you know what you caused when you made Leanne nervous with my past? Did you tell her the whole story? Did you tell her that when I needed you the most, you just left? You ignored all my calls. My emails. My letters! Geez, you disappeared off of the face of the earth, Yujun!"

"What do you want me to do, Andrew?! I had an offer and I took it! You always told me I was meant to become a great surgeon. You always told me to take risk and to never be afraid. Why are you so angry at me for following my dreams, Andrew?"

"I'm not angry at you for following your dreams. I always knew you were capable of anything. I'm angry because you forgot who was there with you every step of the way. I'm angry because if I could have listened to your advice...if you would have picked up the phone that night...maybe Leanne wouldn't have scared Cristina. Cristina wouldn't have hurt her best friend because of your big mouth. Those girls wouldn't be fighting now."

Yujun's eyes carry worry when he hears Dr. Nam's name. "What happened with Leanne?"

"Unlike you, I'll keep their problems private. If you care so much, ask her yourself. But this better be the last time I hear Cristina cry because of your big mouth."

I begin to open the door for him to leave already before I actually throw a punch at his stupid face. But he stays still and softly says, "If you don't want her to cry then tell her the truth. Tell her the whole truth, Andrew. If you love that woman, she deserves to know that part of you."

"Why?" I angrily say. "That's in the past. I screwed up. We all do! Don't act so perfect yourself, Yujun. I'm sure Leanne will be happy to know where I found you the first time we met. You were only a miserable drunk after your father died and I got you out of that. Where were you to save me?"

Yujun lets out a defeated sigh and his eyes turn sad. I know he is genuine but my pride is too great as I look away from his eyes.

"I'm sorry. You aren't the only one I left behind and it hurt so much. I don't know if I will ever regret that decision but I regret trying to push away everyone I left behind. It was hard for me and I was all alone there, too. I wanted to be strong and not lean on my homesickness. I knew I would have given up everything to come back home. To come back to you and...You cannot blame me for any problems Cristina may have. If Leanne spoke up then it's because she cares for her safety and only you can fix this. Don't run away from your past anymore. Be true to yourself and admit your mistakes. Hiding them away won't solve those problems. Eventually, she will find out. It's better if it comes from you."

He sadly gives me a head bow and starts out the door himself. His brown eyes find mine and it's like seeing him for the first time at that bar. He was as quiet as he is now but his eyes glistened with tears then. Now they glisten with exhaustion. My heart shivers at his gentle expression.

He always knew how to make my cold heart melt. He truly is like my brother as he continues to hold that piece of my heart even if he disappeared. He never let that piece of me go. It's why he tried to reach out to me when he came back. It's why he was the first person my father called for help to find me and finish off the last legal documents for my violent mess. But I was scared to respond back. I could lose my job if this gets out.

I can lose Cristina...

If I do...I'll lose myself. It'll be like running wild without her in my life. I'll go back to how I used to be where life did not make sense. She holds my heart. I can't watch her walk away with it.

So I won't risk it. Not like Yujun did. He risked it all for his career. He loved his ambitions and passion just as much as I love Cristina and he lost a brother and the love of his life because of it. I'll learn from him and stay silent for once in my life.

Just as I should have done on that violent night, too.